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IMPORTANT: I will ALWAYS disclose which products I have received from companies free of cost. I will never write sponsored or paid articles. Products sent to me are sent for consideration only, and are not guaranteed a good review. Unless otherwise indicated, everything reviewed are products purchased by me.

La Vie En Beaute is formerly Diamond in the Rough at thoughtsofeverythingandanything.blogspot.com. Please note the change because Blogger WILL NOT automatically redirect you!

Friday, November 28, 2008

I went to Sephora today, but could not find Proenza Blue! Weird! I hope it makes it to B&M Sephora stores soon. However, I did get Nars Cactus Flower cream blush and Urban Decay Oil Slick liquid liner. Let's hope I love both!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I had always wanted to try Mad Minerals Indelible cream liner due to the massive amount of raves they were getting, and the beautiful colors. When a lovely MUA'er sent these to me, I was super excited. But now, as I sit down to review them, I write with a heavy heart. (I am just so dramatic! :D)

Link to website Madminerals.orgTexture: Mad Minerals has a very creamy texture, again, more like a cream shadow. Usually I have good luck with this kind of texture (reminiscent of Kanebo Kate) but not here.

Color payoff: Honestly, maybe it was because they weren't capped tightly enough or something (which would be my fault) the payoff is horrible! It looks more like a bad super sheer cream shadow than an eyeliner that's supposed to define your eyes! It gives more payoff on my hand than my brush, which is NOT a good thing!

Lasting Ability: Mad minerals creases on me quickly, and flakes off within two hours. I couldn't wait to rush home and get it off :/

Price: This retails for 8.99USD on the site posted above...it may be quite cheap compared to most other brands but I would save your money!

Packaging: I also have a rant with this! The caps are made of plastic, and, like it already happened to one of mine, break easily. The name of the gel liner is printed on a black sticker at the bottom, which I like. But I abhor that cap! Grr!

Variety of colors:I recieved two colors: Magnetism and Marcasite. Magnetism is a black flecked with lots of gold shimmer, so it applies like a dark brown. Unfortunately I could not take pictures of this one because the lid cracked very soon after I recieved it and it dried out. Marcasite looks like a beautiful silvery charcoaly grey in the pot, but just looks plain grey once applied.This comes in a range of 13 beautiful colors: the color selection is certaintly better than most companies!

Application: I use the Kate gel liner brush that came with my 6 Kate gel liners. This brush has served me faithfully, but not even it's magical powers could save this liner. I had to really dig into it to pick up some pigment. And then when I went to apply it, it skipped and tugged. I wouldn't recommend this liner for use on the waterline as I bet it would flake off and irritate your eye.

I loove OPI, but some of the pinks just don't work for me (pretty much everything, like Arose at Dawn, broke by noon, the pales, medium pinks, etc). Well, I finally found a pink I like!! And the finish is beautiful and doesn't chip for at least 4 days. I'm happy!

I recieved this in a gift with purchase awhile back, but as I was using Covergirl Lash Blast at the time (Nice stuff!), didn't open it. Well, now that I'm done with the Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Neo fiasco, I've turned to this.

Lasting Ability: This lasts well, with no smudging at the end of the day. It's not anything to be 100% confident that it will last through sweat and heat (It's pretty cold now, so I cannot comment on that) though.

Keeping a Curl: It keeps a curl fairly well, using Shu uemura's lash curler before hand. However, at the end of the day, for me, it's become wilted. Therefore, if you're looking for a curling mascara, don't look here!

Lengthens: High Impact lengthens well, but it won't be a just lengthening mascara. It's actually pretty mediocre, until I get to about 4 coats.

Volumizes: Much more decent at volumizing than lenghtening! One coat amps up my lashes so much more. I would recommend High Impact for a more volumizing mascara, though I still love Lancome Hypnose more.

Definition: Here, it is again mediocre. It clumps after maybe 2 coats, but otherwise defines fairly well. Again, my HG for definition is Lancome Definicils.

Color: This is a glossy black, not super inky but it's good for everyday wear.

Brush: High Impact's brush is a regular spoolie type brush, which seems to be of normal width but there are 'more bristles' along the wand, if that makes sense. It's thicker in that way.

Overall: This is a good mascara for an everyday, natural look. I would definetly not use this while going for a High Impact look though. Decent, but nothing that rocks my world.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

This item I recieved as an extra in a swap, and boy, am I glad I didn't pay full price for it. It looked pretty in the tube, as a warm plum but on the lips--yeesh, just clashed! Here are a few pics to persuade you that this definetly NOT for this NC20:

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

This post will bring some good news for red lipstick lovers! While there are only two pictured, they are pretty much dead on for each other! Which means, those who missed out on MAC Port Red (14$, Naughty Nauticals, May 08) can now get Stila Rock the Vote Red (Also LE, 18$ @ stilacosmetics.com). Here are the pictures to prove it!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

From the link:"The intensity of purest blue. The energy and backstage excitement of high fashion. This is Proenza Schouler Blue, a LIMITED EDITION eye shadow from Shiseido Makeup. Let it inspire your own dramatic look: Blend it evenly around the eye for a halo effect or use it to line the upper and lower lashes for a delicate gleam of blue."

Exclusively at Sephoras and Sephora.com, Proenza Schouler Blue retails 23 dollars. It looks absolutely *gorgeous*! Available 11/12/08. I think I will be indulging in this!

Update: I did not see Proenza Blue at my Sephora today, 11/28?? Weird!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

-Cream eyeshadows - 16 colors-4 new Glitter eyeliners - a hot pink, a light pink, a midnight cowboy, and stage dive.-4 new 24/7 eye pencils (in the beginning, Sephora exclusive)-A primer potion in a color "Sin". (so you can throw it on w/ a color in the crease, and you're done!)-Midnight cowboy lipstick

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

This product had intruiged me for a long time, even before my makeup addiction. Now, however, as I review this, I feel it hasn't lived up to the hype.

Product and usage: A loose kohl, intended to give eyes that smouldering sexy look that we all tend to want these days! Part of the Terracotta collection.

Application: I use this the Eastern Method (Laying the thin stick applicator flat against your waterline, close your eyes and then drag to end). It's semi easy, I got it in about 3 tries, but do expect to make a mess before you really get the hang of it. It can also be used the Western method (simply drawing it on like you would with pencil). Here is a very good tutorial for the Eastern Method: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub5bfsQ1b5s&feature=relatedIt gives an easy tightlining effect. Some product will no doubt get into your eye but I find it non irritating.

Color and other colors: Noir (shimmery black), Brun Doré (golden brown), Oriental Metal (browned taupe), or Bleu (Tealish navy). Of course, there were several limited edition colors in the past that include: Pourpe, Kaki, Secret Glow, Aqua Blue and Oriental Bronze. I am sorry to say that I cannot comment on these colors.

(MAC carbon left)Finish: I believe all of the kohls are shimmery and sparkley.

Lasting Power: This lasts fairly well--its not a complete line at the end of the day but you can still see smudges of it. The water from my eyes ( I don't consider myself to have watery eyes) seems to 'drag' it lower--and it won't budge there! This is why I have given it up. However, others have not had this problem.

Packaging: It comes in a velvet pouch (may be squished to the bottom of your box) and a gold and coppery bronze box. The actual product itself is housed in a kind of egyptian gold and dark brown (this is the Black shade remember, other shades come in gold and whatever the shade was) shape. I can't describe the shape well--hopefully the pictures can do that for you. I find it looks very luxurious but it's made of plastic.

Price: 33 USD for 1g NetWT .03OZ. Again, another price raise?? I'd bought mine for 31$. I bet this could last you forever though.

OVERALL: I wouldn't purchase it again. In 5 sentences:1. Super pretty luxurious packaging (and skimped on the material used..it's plastic).2. Slightly messy and hard to use but you will get it eventually.3. Lasts fairly well, until the water from my eyes drags it downward where it refuses to budge.4. 33$ for .03 oz. I find it could probably last forever, but I still wince.5. Gives an easy smokey tightlined look, but I probably will not repurchase due to lasting ability on me.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

So I'd convinced myself that I didn't need So Ceylon MSF...umm, well, turns out I was wrong! Dang. I'll have to go next time, as I passed it up before.

On that note, Petticoat and So Ceylon are absolutely *delicious*! So is Stark Naked BPB, which is just SO BUTTERY!!! I'm definetly getting more of these at my CCO (cosmetics company outlet, where they sell Estee Lauder brands 30% off.)

Pics!!

Petticoat and Stark Naked

Petticoat (L) Light flush (R)

Apart from these, and So Ceylon, both Sheer Minerals and Red She Said disappointed me. How about you?